In an unusual heist last Tuesday, a man identified as Kobe Watkins, 24, purportedly robbed a Lake City meat market stark naked, armed only with a face mask—and potentially another hidden object believed to be a weapon. As reported by the New York Post, Watkins made away with an estimated $1,000 from BJ’s Meat Market before law enforcement officials quickly apprehended him following the incident.
Facing multiple charges including armed robbery and exposure of sexual organs, Watkins was caught on BJ’s security cameras during the act. After the robbery, officers from the local police responded immediately to the scene to begin to search for the suspect. In the words of Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler, "Incidents like this are unsettling, but our officers responded quickly, secured the scene, and worked with our partners to identify and arrest the suspect," as obtained by CBS12.
Authorities quickly established a perimeter around BJ's Meat Market and tracked the suspect via recovered items, clothing, and other evidence along an escape path. Teamwork between the Lake City Police Department and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office led to the subsequent location and arrest of Watkins. Prior to being booked into the Columbia County Detention Center, he was given a medical evaluation.
Fortunately, the Lake City Police Department confirmed that no one was injured during the robbery. The incident, however, has been described as "unsettling" by local authorities. Police Chief Gerald Butler added to his statement, “We appreciate the swift assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the cooperation from the business employees that helped bring this to a safe resolution,” as per the report by the New York Post.
Watkins faces charges that, aside from the aforementioned robbery and exposure counts, also include grand theft and criminal mischief.
